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  General Araneus sharply returned his grandfather’s gaze and held his head high. “All I care about is that a dragon chose her.”

  “She is the abomination of illegal magic!” Vidar repeated. “We wasted our time, money, and resources in rescuing and harboring the dead child of the Empress! The Emperor is still alive and hiding somewhere within the Empire! Now she has an uncontrollable dragon transformation state that could destroy us! There will be a trial for her to face her crimes before she’s sent to the gallows! And then, the Empress and Captain Altessa will be next!”

  “If I may,” Araneus interrupted, “what if we still kept her and use her powers? She was the reason why we won this battle! She’s a hero!”

  “She’s a woman and a disgrace! She will never be worth anything!” Vidar spat.

  “I will fight for her during the trial. If we kill her now, then what will happen to Thor? Isn’t he a Divinity Dragon? We couldn’t be more lucky than to have them in our ranks! If you sentence them now, then the entire Force will turn against the Council!”

  “Not if they find out who and what Liongod really is. You will have to convince the rest of the members of the Council. We all feel unsafe and fear her awakened powers.”

  “Selena Liongod outranks all of my other soldiers in skill alone! How many have stood against the Lich and his army?”

  Vidar’s expression changed. An eerie smile played upon his lips. “Do you think you can win?”

  The General took a step back. “Yes,” he carefully responded, “I will prepare my own stance to keep her in. I will see to it that she will have the full support of the military.”

  “We will see. Unfortunately, I cannot say much more. It’s not something that I can openly discuss with you, my dear boy. We have our plans.” Vidar turned his back to him. The General couldn’t bring himself to move from his spot. It was as if he was purposefully being pushed into this corner and that he was being tested on his intuition. He wasn’t sure on whether to trust his grandfather or not. The two stood in an uncomfortable silence before Vidar said again: “I believe you have someone to arrest.”

  *****

  There she is!

  Thor gave a huff in response as he landed in front of the Fire Temple where the Empress waited for them. It was near the base of the mountain citadel that took up the center of the city.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again.” Her majesty smiled and bowed. Her voice was surprisingly calm.

  Selena immediately bowed her head lower after she hopped off her dragon’s back.

  “I apologize if we kept you waiting.” She wanted to say more, but couldn’t find the words.

  “Not at all. You two are actually a little early. Please follow me this way, since Vidar is anxiously waiting to meet you, Liongod.”

  The Empress turned around. Selena, however, could not find the strength to step forward. Was that all her ladyship going to say? Selena wanted to scream, to cry. How could a mother ignore her child?

  “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but is that all you’re going to say to me?” Selena’s voice crackled. Her words were but a whisper, but the Empress stopped walking.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

  Her answer was cold.

  “Yes you do. Just something… anything! I know you know!”

  Her mother was rejecting her!

  “What good will come of it talking about it now?” the Empress asked coolly.

  Now is not the time. I think you should back off.

  This isn’t fair! How can she keep calm? Does she not care? At least my own father was there for me! But…

  Stop this! I understand, I really do, but right now is not a good time and place! We’re out in the open where everyone can hear you! Do you want the Council to take you away? To take me away?

  “Vidar is waiting. Thor will have to wait out here.” The Empress acted as if the previous conversation never happened and walked inside.

  Thor gave a low grumble from the back of his throat, but nodded all the same.

  Then I shall wait. If anything happens, please call for me. He sat down like an obedient dog.

  I’m sorry… I’m letting my emotions get the better of me. I should have known better. Will you be fine out here?

  I won’t leave here until you come back out. I don’t trust Vidar, so I will stay on alert until I know you’re safe. Please stay calm. I’m sure that the Empress will find time to talk to you. She has before.

  Selena hesitated, but nodded in agreement.

  Yes… you’re right. Thank you. She gave him a quick pat on his nose before following the Empress inside the temple. I will apologize to her.

  I think that would be best.

  When they reached inside, the temple was empty compared to the last time she visited. The candles on the shrine to the Fire Lion were kindled as they walked inside. It gave her an uneasy feeling coming back again.

  Selena finally whispered, “I’m sorry for my outburst. It won’t happen again.”

  “You don’t need to ask for my forgiveness. I was never angry with you. It’s not safe here.”

  Just as the Empress finished her sentence, a section of the wall behind the Fire Lion’s statue crumbled away to reveal a hidden passage. General Araneus trudged down the stone steps with two guards following behind.

  “General!” Selena immediately gave him a salute, but froze when she noticed that he did not return the gesture. Instead, he snapped his fingers and his guards immediately pulled out their weapons.

  “Andric Liongod, you are under arrest!” his voice echoed.

  The Empress stepped in front of Selena and held out her arms as if to shield her.

  “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.

  General Araneus avoided eye contact as his guards rushed over and forced Selena to her knees. She felt the cold metal cuffs as her hands were bound behind her back.

  Selena couldn’t think about losing Thor. Her friends: Silver, D, Kain… everyone told her that they would be safe. This couldn’t be happening…

  “Selena Liongod,” the General stated with her real name this time, “you are being charged with joining the military under false pretenses and for jeopardizing the safety of the Empire.”

  How indeed? How could she have been so careless? How could she have let her guard down? No, the Divines wouldn’t do this to them, to her. She couldn’t walk to the gallows. She couldn’t watch them kill Thor. She couldn’t…

  Her ladyship stepped forward but was pushed back by the guards. When Selena relayed what was going on to Thor, his roars made the earth tremble. She struggled but the guards shoved her face into the marble.

  I am going to get you out of there!

  No, don’t!

  The temple doors were busted open and one of Thor’s claws thrashed wildly from the threshold.

  “Thor, I order you to stand down!”General Araneus shouted and immediately pushed his way through. He drew a dagger hidden in his belt and pressed the blade to Selena’s throat. “Stand down, or I will kill your handler now!”

  Thor stopped and slowly pulled his talons back.

  If they kill you, then I will destroy everyone and everything in this damn city! Thor carefully backed away from the temple when he became surrounded by a large number of guards with their weapons pointed at him.

  Please… stand down for now! I’ll be fine!

  Thor lowered his head and made eye contact with her. He didn’t move or budge when chains were thrown over and bound him to the ground.

  The General put his weapon away and walked to the broken doors. He kept his back to her. “Your dragon will be detained until further notice. Take her to her prison cell until we are ready for her. The Council will be preparing for your trial.”

  *****

  Chapter 3

  The sun began to set. The sky was painted with the beautiful colors of the coming dusk. A few clouds hovered in the air, their shadows dancing across the ground. Soon, t
he heavens became shrouded with more silvers and blues. Even during the summer months, the landscape deep within the Hinterlands was covered in snow. It was a strange anomaly.

  Two wolves ran through its depths, keeping their distance as they watched their surroundings. They stopped when an unusual and yet, delectable scent caught their attention.

  In the distance was a human with three large breed dogs on leather leashes; they were hunting hounds. The wolves growled and ran back in the direction they came from.

  The Aynu pack knew the land. They lived inside the Hinterlands as wolves that can shape-shift into humans, and always wore wolf masks that couldn’t be taken off. They killed all in their path and never tolerated newcomers.

  Three from the pack hid themselves well within the trees and made every attempt to keep silent. The largest of them, the She-Wolf, stepped out into the open and sniffed around to catch the hunter’s scent. Around her eyes and face were red markings. Her orders during every hunt were always given telepathically. She turned around to bark at her companion.

  Wait until they rest.

  The Aynu watched the human looking for a place to make camp with his dogs. He built a campfire with a small tent near the opening of trees. After about a couple of hours of this, the human sat down near his canines. One of them laid it’s head in the human’s lap to get pets. The human stroked his animal with his free hand as he used the other to feed the fire.

  The Alpha eyed them carefully with such a fixed and intent stare. She knew that her pack was hungry and eager to attack, but it wasn’t the right time yet. They had been following their prey all day.

  One of the wolves brushed up against the leaves. The dogs picked up their ears and started growling. The hunter grabbed his shotgun that was leaning behind him in the tent and aimed it at where the sound came from.

  “Who’s there?” he growled but all was still and quiet once more. “Probably those damn rats or something.”

  He laid down in his tent and grumbled himself to sleep, leaving his hounds tied to the poll outside.

  The next morning when the human woke up, he found his campsite trashed and one of his dogs was gone with some blood trailing across the ground. The other two were huddled together in fear.

  The Aynu went scurrying back into the forest before the man saw them. He went back into his tent and grabbed his quiver and longbow. As he saw more wolves approaching, he pulled out one of his arrows and shot it at them. His attack missed, but the wolves scurried away.

  He heard whining coming from behind from his last two dogs, but when he looked over, he saw the She-Wolf.

  The man tripped over backwards and his hands shook as he attempted to grab another arrow, but she quickly turned around and darted back into the trees with the others.

  The hunter spent the rest of his day in fear and kept his weapons ready as he tried to find his way out of the forest. His two dogs remained close. However, the trees grew thicker around them, as if the Hinterlands were trying to keep them in its clutches.

  As soon as he went back into his tent to get some food that he packed away, he heard his dogs and some rustling from outside, followed by snarling and whining.

  A long howl rang through the air and the human came outside to find that the wolves came back again and were attacking his dogs. Snarls echoed across the site as the wolves threw themselves at the hounds. The She-Wolf attacked one of his dogs and snapped her jaws around its throat, covering the ground in blood.

  The human pulled out his shotgun and shot one of the wolves down. The She-Wolf and her last companion retreated into the forest once more with another dog as their prize.

  The thought of the wolves tracking him down tormented the unfortunate hunter and he didn’t know what he should do. He didn’t have enough food to make it through the rest of his trip and he only had one hound left. The man knew that they were going to die in the Hinterlands.

  He got up from his post, went inside his tent quickly, and came back out. His last dog was still there, sleeping as if nothing had happened to its brothers.

  The man continued to carry his longbow and shotgun with him as he went to pack up what was left after the wolves had taken half of his supplies. However, his ears were filled with more howling from the distance and his last dog started barking once again.

  The She-Wolf ran out into the middle of their campsite and started acting as though it were wanting to play with his dog. It conceded to her behavior and started whining as if it wanted to go and be with her. Another wolf appeared behind the hound and immediately went for its throat, killing it instantly. It then bit through the rope and dragged its body into the trees.

  The hunter staggered out of his tent and attempted to shoot at the She-Wolf, but she moved with such incredible speed. He was knocked down to his back and she got on top of him to hold him down with her large, front paws. His weapons were about an arm’s reach away; he attempted to grab them but the alpha was faster; she nipped and bit at his hands to keep them away.

  He tried to push the wolf off him, but she was stronger.

  Take all that you can get! Leave nothing behind! she shouted her orders.

  The She-Wolf then looked back down and, with one massive swipe with her large teeth, she clamped her jaws around the hunter’s throat. His body trembled and his blood poured out like a river.

  The wolves gave out a howl in victory as they retreated with their spoils.

  They traveled to where the Raging River met the North Sea. Eventually, they reached an enormous waterfall. The sun gave it an incandescent radiance.

  All along the side of the mountain range hidden behind the waterfall were beautiful cliff dwellings; this area was known as the Ankoku Pass. The terrain around its ruins was rugged and contained steep-sided canyons that were cut into the amber mountain side.

  Maru was the Alpha Male. He and his mate lived at the very bottom while the rest of their pack were above. This was so because they could easily protect their family. He was in his human form and he wore a black wolf mask. He paced back and forth until he picked up his mate’s scent.

  The She-Wolf, named Kiba, walked out from the thickening of the trees and slithered through the branches like a snake with her comrade following behind. Together, they carried the bounty of their hunt.

  She walked down the hill towards the glassy sea. Near the watering hole were other animals, such as deer, foxes, rabbits, and various species of bird. They immediately stepped back and bowed as Kiba and the other wolf strode by. Her pack were the protectors of the forest. They believed that the Hinterlands were a gift from their goddess Artio, and that anyone who dared to trespass into their territory would be put to death, unless they were invited by a member of the pack. However, they never trusted outsiders enough to offer this courtesy.

  The Aynu worshiped Artio and prayed to her daily to keep the Hinterlands well and plentiful. When she was pleased, the trees were fruitful and the prey was abundant. When she was angry, she caused a natural disaster to bring them misfortune. By keeping her happy, the Aynu offered her the blood sacrifice of traitors and trespassers.

  When they reached the pass, Kiba and her follower changed back into their human forms but they still retained their wolf masks. Their veils stopped above their mouths, and it was all that they wore. Kiba had long white hair that matched her wolf form’s fur coat.

  After her and Maru exchanged pleasantries, they brought their offerings inside to bring to their burrow.

  The sunlight peeked through a colossal hole inside the waterfall, revealing the little homes etched into the rock. Many wolves came peeking out as soon as they picked up their scent. Their fortress was a rock castle built from the earth.

  Small pups ran around, chasing each other while their mothers wove furs together.

  Pathways were carved into the side that led to the cave homes. More wolf pups came rushing past their Alpha Female and began chewing the remaining bones of the human she killed.

  The female wolves carried
some of their hand made baskets towards another cave with a boulder beside the entrance. This was where they stored their food. The meat from the hunts were wrapped in hide and cloth before being buried in the dirt to keep them cold and preserved.

  That night, the pack got together. They were a relatively large pack of about fifty members. It was considered the largest wolf pack ever recorded. They all walked into the offering cave where the moon shone through the hole.

  Maru and Kiba walked in the middle in their wolf forms while everyone else surrounded them.

  The Alpha Male threw his head up towards the sky and gave out a long howl, followed by Kiba. When they finished, the others followed. Together, the Aynu pack howled in harmony, like a song.

  *****

  Selena sat in isolation in one of the six small cells underneath the Fire Temple. It had been several hours since her arrest, and all that went through her mind were all the horrible scenarios of what would happen to her dragon. Although her efforts were futile, she still tried to talk to him. It felt like there was a block in their mental link. Her chest ached as she kept playing the image of him from earlier.

  “I’m so sorry, Thor.”

  She held her trembling head. This all seemed like a dream, or that maybe someone was playing a cruel trick on her. She was tired, too tired. But she didn’t dare sleep. How could a good person sleep while their dragon was in chains? If Thor was dead, then Selena would join him.

  She pushed the thought away and stood up to pace around. How could the Council have found out? Selena immediately thought of Azrael. That traitorous bastard! How could he… No. It couldn’t have been him. Azrael knew better. If he did, then Silver and the others would have already taken care of the problem.

  She then thought of Ashur Bel, another Captain in charge of her unit in the Force. He wasn’t particularly fond of her for reasons unknown. While still in basic, a rare snake native to Runefell, called the Marcupo, attacked and almost killed her. Selena and Silver suspected Captain Bel’s involvement, but there wasn’t any proof. He had been missing since the battle. But how would have Captain Bel found out?